Chain-stitch sewing-machine.



A. H. DE VOE.

0mm s'rrrcn SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED D120. 8, 1913.

1 1 07 659. Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS SHEET l.

WITNESSES. .57 INVENTOI? 77 ENE) THE NbRR/S PETERS 50-. PHOTD-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. L.

A. H. DB VOE.

01mm STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DIHLLB, 1913.

1,107,659, Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. IN VEN TOR THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-Ll (H04. WASHINGYON. D. C.

MIA

con. I

ALBERT H. DE VOE, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO TIHE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CHAIN-STITCH SEWING--MAGHINE.

Application filed'Decemher 8, 1913.

b all who in it may concern.

Be it known that I, Annual? H. De Von, citizen of the United States, residing at Westtield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain-Stitch Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object to provide simple, effective and compact lower thread handling means for that class of machines constructed with a frame having the main or driving shaft jourualed therein beneath the worth-plate su't'licieutly above the base to receive a balance-wheel exposed wholly above the supporting table for convenient grasp by the operator. In such class of machine it is important that the WO1l plate be arranged as near as possible to the level of the supporting table, thereby making it ditlicult to employ looper mechanism cl approved type and construction by reason of the limited height of the space between the work-plate and the lower face of the machine base.

According to the present improvement, the n'iain-shaft has fixed thereon the usual halance-wl'ieel with attached belt-pulley and carries also the actuating elements for imparting the requisite reciprocating movements to the needle and operative move inents to the feeding mechanism, and the loop-taker shaft is journaled beneath and COI'UIGClTQ (l with the main-shaft and has at its forward end a single inclined crank element rn'ieratively connected with and imparting operative movements to the locper which mounted upon a rocking and endwisemovable support having its axis of movement in substantially intersecting relation with that of the looper-actuating shaft.

In the preferred form of the improvement I i'nake use of looper mechanism conforming in general construction with that of my Patent No. 1,100,124, dated June 16, 19141. In order. however, to secure the requisite length of bearing between the sliding and pivotal connections to insure durability and precision of looper movements, the inclined crank of the looper-actuating shaft is made tubular to aiford an internal bearing extendinn; lengthwise over the hub by which it is secured to the shaft, and the intermediate rocking connection with the looper-carrier Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 19314.

set-m1 No. 805.220.

is formed, with a pin entering and having a length corresponding with said bearing. By this means, the inclined crank element is given a substantial and rigid connection with the shaft which it overhangs but slightly and each of the sliding and pivotal connectimis has ample bearing area to give the best results.

According to the present improvement the driving connection between the main and looper-actuating shafts carries a minimum load, in that all parts excepting the looper are actuated directly from the main-shaft, the looper-aictuating shaft being relieved even of the loopeuthrcad take-up and nipping. devices which are operated by indepmnlent connections with the eccentric-rod through which motion is transmitted from tpetmain-sha'lt to the needle-actuating rocks raft.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 vation of the machine looking toward the bracket-arm standard. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the looper and its actuating means.

The frame of the machine is shown constructed with the base 1 from which rises the standard 2 sustaining the lateral overhanging arm 3 terminating in the head 4. At its forward end the base is provided with the post formed at its upper end with. the flat-topped enlargement 6, and intermediate the ends with a hen ring member 7 having at the rearward end the extension 8 also provided with a flat top upon which and the top of the post 5 is secured the work-plate 9.

Journaled in the lower portion of the standard 2 and in the extension 8 slightly beneath the work-plate is the main-shaft 10 having fixed upon its rearward end the balance-wheel 11 with attached grooved pulleys 12 and needle-actuating eccentric 13; and adjacent the bearing member 8 it is provided with the feed-actuating and lifting eccentrics 14 and 15.

Journaled within the frame members 2 and 7 beneath the main-shaft is the rotary looper-actuating shaft 16 having an operative connection with the main-shaft through the intermeshing gears 17 and 18. Secured upon the forward. end of the main-shaft adjacent the lateral boss 7 of the bearing member 7 by means of the clamp-screws 19 1s the split hub 20 of the tubular crank element 21 having the axis of its cylindrical bore inclined to that of the actuating shaft 16.

To the bore of the crank element 21 is fitted the cylindrical pin 22 sustained. by the upwardly projecting arm 23 of the split collar 24-v having secured therein by means of the clamp-screw 25 the cylindrical pin 26 disposed crosswise of the pin 22 and extending oppositely across the end thereof. The pin 26 is fitted within the bore of the tubular looper-carrier 27 which is provided near its lower end with the laterally projecting cylindrical pin 28 fitted to slide and oscillate within the aperture of the bearing boss 29 which is sustained by an extension of the post The axis of the bearing boss 29 is disposed in substantially intersecting relation with that of the main-shaft and slightly at one side of the axis of the tubular crank element 21. The looper-carrier 27 has near its upper end the lateral lug 30 formed with a socket in which is secured by means of the set-screw 31 a stud depending from the shank 32 of the looper whose blade 33 has adjacent its point the thread delivery aperture 34 at one extremity of the longitudinal thread-groove or channel provided at the opposite end with a thread-eye 36 of suitable form.

The looper cooperates in the production of a double chain stitch seam with an eyepointed needle 37 carried by the reciproeating needle-bar 38 which is journaled in the bracket-arm head t and connected by the link 39 with the crank-arm 40 upon the needle-actuating rock-shaft ll journaled upon the member 3 of the bracket-arm. The

rock-shaft 41 has secured upon its opposite.

end the hub 4L2 of a crank-arm 5L3 connected by means of the screw-stud n with the upper end of the connecting rod 4:5 provided at its opposite end with the split strap 46 embracing the actuating eccentric or crank element 13 of the m ain-shaft from which the needle derives its reciprocating movements.

The cap of the eccentric-strap .46 is provided with a lug 47 which affords a seat upon which is secured by means of the fastening screw 48 the foot d9 of the take-up arm 50, a similar arm 51 having its foot 52 secured adjustably upon the member 49 by means of the fastening screw 53. The takeup arms 50 and are provided with the cam-shaped thread-apertures 54 arranged in alinement, and are spaced apart to admit between them the stationary thread-arm formed with the cam-shaped thread-slot 56 and having its shank 57 secured by means of the screw 58 upon a block 59 provided at opposite sides thereof with apertures in which are secured by screws 60 the shanks of the depending rigid thread-arms 61 provided in. their lower extremities with alined guidc-apertures ('12, the arms (31 being sufliciently separated to embrace the arms 50 and 51.

The bracket-arm sustains at the head of the standard the needle-thread and loopertln'ead tension devices 63 and. 6 provided respectively with the, guide-washers 65 and (56 having the thread-apertures 65 and (56. Upon the standard 2 intermediate the tension devices and the guide-arms G1 is secured by means of the screw (37 the transverse block (38 having fastened thereon by means of the screw (39 and steady pin the normally separated superposed nipper-plates 71 and 72, the former being provided in its outer end with the notched guide-lips 73 to guide the thread between such plates. Journaled in a transverse aperture of the standard and the block 68 is the push-pin 74 having its head 75 countersunk beneath the inner nipper-plate 71, its opposite end projecting beyond the standard within the range of movement of the plate 76 which is formed with the flange 77 secured by the screw 78 upon one face of the connecting rod 45. The nipper-plates remain separated for the free passage of the thread through the notched guide-flanges '73 excepting during the rise of the connecting rod in its forward position, when the plate 76 presses the pin 74 forwardly and causes it to act upon the inner nipper-plate for temporarily gripping the thread between itself and the outer nipper-plate. As both of these plates are formed of resilient material they effect a yielding engagement with the thread. The nipping pressure can obviously be regulated either by adjustment of the fastening screw (39 or by adjustment of the position of the plate 76 upon the connecting rod 45.

The feed-actnating eccentric 14- is embraced by the strap at one end of the eccentric rod 79 whose apertured opposite end embraces the stud S0 adjustably mounted upon the slotted arm 81 of the feedrockcr mounted upon the fulcrum-bar 88 sustained by the frame. Fulcrumed upon the pivotal pin 84 of the feed-rocker is the frame 85 having a lateral arm 86 carrying the feed-dog ST and a second arched arm 88 provided. with the socket 89 in which is journaled the plunger-pin 90 having at its outer end the strap 91 embracing the feedlifting eccentric 15. The work-advancing and rising and falling movements are imparted to the frame 85,. and consequently to the feed-dog 87, by the connections with the main-shaft just described. Opposed to the feed-dog 87 is the usual presser-foot 92 s cured to the presscr-bar 93 which is journaled as usual in the head 4 of the bracket arm. 7,

In threading the machine, the needlethread is led from the source of supply through the guide-eye 05 between the component disks of the tension device 63 and thence thrmigh the usual guide members, in-- cluding the usual guide-eye 94L upon the needle-bar, to the needle. The looperthread is passed through the guide-eye (20' and tension device (54; and thence between the nipper-pl ates, gitiided by the notched flanges 73, from l which it is passed successively through the rearward thread-arm 61 and time apertures of the take-up members 51 and 50 and through the eye of the second threadarm from which it is led through an apcrt'ure inthe extremity of the fixed guide-arm 95 to the heel of the looper-blade from the point of which latter it emerges.

In the stitching operation, the needle descends and presents its loop which entered upon the rearward side by the looper as the needle begins its rise, the advance oil. the looper to extreme position serving to draw the thread freely through the take'up device and through the separated members of the nipping device to secure loopcw-thrcad through the tension device for the succeeding stitch-forming operation. In the retro-- grade movement of the looper upon the opposite side of the needle subsequent to the feed of the work, the apertured take-up members 50 and 51 receive the looper-thread into the depending extremities of their apertures and carry the intermediate portion 01 thread against the straight lower edge of the fixed member 5.) in advance of the slot 50 so as to effectively take up the slack thread given up by the retreating looper in order that the looper-thread may be taut when the point of the then descending needle encounters the strand leading from the looper point to the work. As the looper continues to retreat and its point passes the needlopath, the take-up arms 50 and 51 draw the looperthread within the slot 56 of the fixed member which conforms in shape substantially to their pat-h of movement, thereby materially retarding the thread d 'awing action which continues at a reduced rate until the recession and descent of the arms 50 and 51 causes the stripping of the thread from the lower ends 01. the apertures 54% by action of the fixed member 55 about at the end of the retraction of the looper, when the take-up action entirelyceases and the looperthread is slackened for the succeeding advance of the looper in the next stitch-forming cycle. The nipper remains open until about the time that the looper presents its thread for engagement of the needle at which time the looper-thread is drawn taut by the take-up device, when the nipper becomes closed to insure against the stealing of an additional supply of thread through the tension device.

Heretofore it has been proposed to provide a rotary shaft with an inclined looperactuating crank-pin having an external bearing face which could be utilized only beyond its point oi c mnection with the shaft. the cooperating member beingapertured to embrace said crank-pin. in the type of sewing machine represented in the accompanying drawings, the employment of looper mechanism involving such an element has been found to be impracticable without the loss oi. certain desirable features before noted. By providing a tubular looper-actuatiug crank-pin having an internal bearing surface to receive a pin fitted within the same, the greatest compactness is secured with bearing surfaces of suilicient area to insure durability, quiet running and precision in the looper movements.

By the provi "on of an auxiliary shalt tor actuating the looper, this element of the construction has been so arranged, not only to permit the employment of the inclined loeper-actuating crank element, but to accommodate cooperating elements so proportioned and arranged as to adapt to this type of machine the mnstructive 'l'eaturcs ol special importance characteristic of the loopcr mechanism forming the subject oi my aforesaid Patent No. 1,100,124.

I-lcretofore it has been customary to actuate all the lower thread handling devices by direct connections with the loop aetnating shaft, but according to the present inmrovcment the auxiliary sha'lt performing such function is entirely relieved oi the take up and nipper-operating means, thereby lightening the load upon the looper-actimting shaft and thus reducing the liability to noise through the operation of the connecting gears at the high rate of speed at which the present mechanism is designed to operate.

In certain aspects of the present improvcment it is immaterial which member of the looper mechanism is :liormed with the tubular element entered by the coacting turning and endwise movable element, and this is to be understood in connection with the recital of such elements in certain of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:-

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with the frame cmnprising a base and a bracket-arm rising therefrom and a workplate sustained above the base, of a mainshaft journaled in said frame below the work-plate and provided with a balancewheel disposed above the lower face of said base, a reciprocating needle opcratively connected with said main-shail't, feeding mechanism also operatively connected with said main-shaft, a loo 'ier-actuating shaft mounted in said frame between the main-shaft and the lower face of said base, a driving connection between said shafts, an inclined crank upon the forward extremity of said looper-actuating shaft, a looper coijipcratinp;

nection between said looper and crank in eluding a pin fitted to said crank and adapted for turning and endwise movement relatively thereto.

2. In a sewing machine; the combination with the frame comprising a base and a bltlclflkfll'm -1% therefrom and a workplate sustained above the base, of a reciprocating needle, an actuating shaft .journaled in saidL frame below the work-plate and pro vided at its forward eXtremi y with mainclined tubular crank having its axis in sub stantially intersecting relation with that of said shaft, a looper cooperating with said needle and adapted for oscillation and endwise movement upon an axis in substan tially intersecting relation with that of said actuating shaft, and an operative connection between said loopcr and crank including a pin fitted revolubly within the bore of said tubular crank.

3. In a sewing; machine, the combination with the frame comprising a base and a bracket-arm rising therefrom and a workplate sustained above the base. of mainshaft journaled in said. frame below the work-plate and provided with a balancewheel, disposed wholly above the lower face of said base, a reciprocating needle, a looperactuating shaft mounted in said frame between the main-shaft and the lower face of said base, a driving connection between said shafts, an inclined tubular crank mounted upon the forward extremity of said looperactuating shaft a looper cooperating witl said needle and adapted to rock .upon an axis in substantially intersecting relation with that of said actuating; shaft, and an opc'ative connection. between said loop-er and crank includinga, pin revolubly and slidingly fitted within the bore of said tubular crank.

4;. in a looper mechanism. the combination with an actuating shaft provided with an inclined tubular crank having its axis in substantially intersectingrelation with that of said shaft, of a looper-carrier mounted for oscillatory and endwise movement upon an axis transverse to that of said shaft, and a rocking member formed with angular-1y arranged pivotal elements of which one extends across the end of and in opposite di rections from the other, one of said elements being slidingly and revolubly fitted within said tubular crank and the other similarly fitted to a part of the looper-carrier for transmitting to the latter operative movements from said crank.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with the frame comprising a base and a bracket-arm rising therefrom and a workplate sustained above the base, of a mainshaft journaled in said frame below the work-plate and provided with a balancewheel disposed wholly above the lower face of said base a reciprocating needle, feedactuating and needle-actuating elements carried by said main-shaft, feeding mecha' nism operatively connected with the feed actuating element-s means including a connecting-rod formed with a strap embracing the needle-actuating element for imparting operative movements to the needle, an endwise and sidewise movable threadrarrying looper, a looper-actuating shaft mounted in said frame beneath the main-shaft with which it is operatively connected, a crank and sliding-pin connection between said looper-actuating shaft and the looper and looper-thread take-up and nipping devices each including an operative element mount ed upon said connectingq'od.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatiorn in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ALBERT H. DE VOE. ll' itncsses HENRY J. hilinLnn, firm :1 a. KonNnMANN, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

